..The first born son to Florrie & Bob, A lithe Scots lass then caught his eye, ..There would be many more, The young Joyce Harris, she, ..Alas the male folk only, thrived, Nineteen seventy, September fourth, ..His mother's heart was sore. To wedlock, would agree.
.He did excel at primary school, A family they soon started, . .Then, 'Royal Academy', You're given what you've got, . A growing family made the move And while he would have loved a son, . To live in Glengormley. Two daughters was their lot.
At age fifteen to Grand Central, With past'ral charges to his name,
Some catering to learn, The country, travelled 'round, . A master chef took him on board, Shepherding many families, . Experience to earn. Ne'er knew where he'd be found.
With father, as 'drum major' From Chancellor Street in Partick, . In 'Star of Eden' band, Through Bellshill, Tulli-B, . This young lad helped to keep the beat, Soon, Coatbridge, also Motherwell . His timing's really grand. And Wishaw, would him see.
The ‘ORIANA’ was his home, At least he had his weekends off, ' 'Twas sure he had webbed feet. When he'd be asked to preach.
Believe that’s where he learnt to swim, Historic event he'd teach on, . {If memory serves me right, } { Remember being told, }
"Sink or swim", was the command, Had happened in his lifetime.
So water, - he did fight. “Awwww Sir, you’re just so old"
Just do not ask him what he did Vacationing in Europe
In Tokyo that year, In their touring caravan,
Olympic village, 'sixty four, Retired, a while, in 'La Belle France'
With photographic gear. A 'proper gentleman'.
Returned home in his twenties, So now it’s 2024
Heard call to ministry, We trust he'll see another,
To Bible Training Institute, He's an 'Octogenarian'.
Received there, hIs degree. But aye, .....my.....loving....brother.
Colin Ross
Before & After blurbs
BEFORE
Thanks go to my friend & pastor, Pat, for assistance in recording this.
Well hello there Brian and all who are with you, and a happy octogenarian birth day anniversary. Now dinna fret this is only gonna take about 7 minutes, after I start the main part, but I’ve a half hour introduction here, ( showing a grinning emoji ) and it’s NOT gonna be like Eamon Andrews on the “This is your life” show where some one spoke on video from afar to the person whose life was being aired, and then near the end, they showed up in the studio. I am STILL in Canada. - Just saw Brian wipe his brow, and mouth ‘Whew” there, while rolling his eyes with glee - quit laughing, you.
I couldn’t let this ‘special birth day’ anniversary go past without doing for YOU, what I did for dad & mum, at the same age, and it was YOU, Brian who gave me the incentive to start it. ME? I hear you ask? - YEP - I HAVE my hearing aids turned up too; so I DID hear you …. (grinning emoji) - (side note - I DON’T actually wear any), but when you were sending your Christmas / birthday / anniversary cards, to mum and dad, with an added composed verse, I thought - if “he“ can do it, so can I. I have had this composed for 2 years with the assistance from family, so it was a team effort; and I’m delighted that you have been spared to hear it, - I have composed over 100 more poems since; though they are mainly shorter than this one. I also couldn’t do for you, what YOU did for gran, at this age. I can STILL see that large rectangular iced cake with the iced cakes of an 8 and a ZER0 stood at an angle, on top of it, and mums extended family all in our Carnmoney Road house [before the partition of living room & dining room]. SO, without further ado (I’ll say a bit after it too, so hang on when it’s done) and, IF you hear me yawning during it, it’s the ‘Classical conditioning’ effect, I have been so used doing this in the evenings when I am a little more tired. SO, Are you sitting comfortably? Then I’ll begin
POEM............
AFTER
I’m pretty sure, if you’re like me, you have wiped a tear or two from your eyes there. Sadly, and to our chagrin, our family was NOT one for building each other up, or expressing our love to each other. I HAVE changed nowadays, albeit to friends, so I’m delighted NOW, to have shown YOU, that love. I always shed a tear when I read, especially, the last line of your ode. … So THANK, YOU, BRIAN, for being you. - not just, my brother, but, MY…..”LOVING” ….BROTHER. We certainly grew a lot closer when we were caring for mum and before that when I was phoning you reports about dad when he was in hospital. The Historic event that you remembered happening, YOU had mentioned it to mum on one of your a/noon or evening phone calls - and of course, she DID remember THAT snippet and relayed it to me the next time I was with her.- strange how she remembered SOME things. I loved that you came over to spend a weekend with mum - so you could see for yourself how she was keeping, spend some quality time with her AND, give me a short break - it was most appreciated but I know you did so out of love, because you cared. I loved that WE bonded more during that time too. I felt treated as an 'equal' - not just the (quote/unquote) ’kid brother' and for THAT, I thank you. So have a happy rest of your day, Brian, you SHOULD be receiving a copy of this ode, (if you haven’t already,) Have a great time, and thanks again for being you, MY ... LOVING ..... brother. I'm delighted that I've gotten the chance to tell you that. - Je t’ador mon frere - I'll go th'noo and dry my eyes ONCE AGAIN. Love you Brian.
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